Ophthalmic lens disinfecting base

Abstract

The present invention provides for a disinfecting radiation base with a germicidal bulb for providing disinfecting radiation to a storage case for an ophthalmic lens, such as a contact lens. The disinfecting radiation base provides disinfecting radiation for disinfecting a contact lens. The disinfecting radiation base may also include a processor and digital memory for automated functions associated with the base.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A base for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case for storing one or more ophthalmic lenses, the base comprising:
 a receptacle for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case, wherein said ophthalmic lens storage case is removable from said receptacle and said ophthalmic lens storage case includes a removable cap attached to said ophthalmic lens storage case by a fastening mechanism, wherein said removable cap seals off an ambient atmosphere from a storage compartment within the ophthalmic lens storage case and wherein said ophthalmic lens storage case further comprises an alignment mechanism; 
 an electronic circuit mounted on said base, wherein said electronic circuit controls a predetermined cycle time of disinfecting radiation exposure; and 
 one or more germicidal bulbs emitting disinfecting radiation for said predetermined cycle time, in a direction which will intersect an ophthalmic lens storage compartment proximate to the ophthalmic lens storage case, wherein activation of said bulbs is controlled by the electrical circuit, and additionally comprising a vibration generation device incorporated into the base and controlled by said electronic circuit for providing mechanical movement to a storage case placed in the storage base, said vibration generation device vibrating at a predetermined frequency in order to separate proteins and organisms from said ophthalmic lenses. 
 
     
     
       2. The base of  claim 1  additionally comprising a reflective surface for reflecting disinfecting radiation towards ophthalmic lens storage compartment, wherein the reflective surface comprises one or more of: Teflon, aluminum, magnesium oxide and zirconium oxide. 
     
     
       3. The base of  claim 2  additionally comprising one or more light emitting diodes, wherein the one or more light emitting diodes are capable of emitting ultraviolet radiation, and wherein the electronic circuit is capable of controlling the emission of ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
       4. The base of  claim 3 , wherein the electronic circuit additionally comprises a pulsing mechanism capable of causing the one or more light emitting diodes to pulse ultraviolet radiation. 
     
     
       5. The base of  claim 4  wherein the pulsing mechanism causes the one or more light emitting diodes to generate a pattern of radiation across a surface of a lens stored in the storage compartment. 
     
     
       6. The base of  claim 5  additionally comprising a processor capable of executing software to generate a pattern of radiation based upon instructions included in the software. 
     
     
       7. The base of  claim 6  wherein the light emitting diodes emit between about 50 microwatts and 5 watts of power. 
     
     
       8. The base of  claim 7  wherein one or both of the germicidal bulb and the light emitting diodes emit radiation in a wavelength of between 250 nanometers and 280 nanometers. 
     
     
       9. The base of  claim 1  wherein the cycle time causes emission of disinfecting radiation by one or both of the germicidal bulbs comprising a sufficient intensity and length of time of exposure to a storage compartment proximate to the base to kill an organism on an ophthalmic lens stored in the storage compartment and then removes the radiation. 
     
     
       10. The base of  claim 1  additionally comprising a processor for controlling the generation of disinfecting radiation. 
     
     
       11. The base of  claim 10  wherein a time period that a disinfecting radiation is provided by one or both of the germicidal bulb and the light emitting diodes is based upon a logical control signal generated by the processor. 
     
     
       12. The base of  claim 10  wherein an intensity at which a disinfecting radiation is provided is based upon a logical control signal generated by the processor. 
     
     
       13. The base of  claim 10  additionally comprising an audio component operative to provide an audio signal based upon operation of the source of disinfecting radiation. 
     
     
       14. The base of  claim 10  additionally comprising a display for displaying a status of a disinfecting process based upon digital data transmitted by the processor. 
     
     
       15. The base of  claim 11  additionally comprising a digital storage for storing information related to a disinfecting process. 
     
     
       16. The base of  claim 1  wherein the vibration generation device comprises a piezoelectric mechanism. 
     
     
       17. The base of  claim 1  wherein the piezoelectric mechanism is operated based upon a logical signal generated by a processor. 
     
     
       18. The base of  claim 15  additionally comprising a universal serial bus connector for providing logical communication between one or both of: the processor and the digital storage; and personal processing device. 
     
     
       19. The base of  claim 15  additionally comprising a universal serial bus connector for providing an electrical current for operating the storage base. 
     
     
       20. The base of  claim 1  additionally comprising an electrical storage for storing power to operate the storage base. 
     
     
       21. The base of  claim 20  wherein the electrical storage comprises one or more rechargeable batteries. 
     
     
       22. The base of  claim 21  wherein the electrical storage comprises one or more lithium ion batteries. 
     
     
       23. The base of  claim 3  wherein the ophthalmic lens storage compartment comprises an alignment artifact for aligning a contact lens to receive disinfecting radiation emitted by one or both of the germicidal bulb and the light emitting diodes at an angle essentially orthogonal to a plane across a perimeter edge of the contact lens. 
     
     
       24. The base of  claim 3  wherein the ophthalmic lens storage compartment comprises a material transparent to ultraviolet radiation, and wherein ultraviolet radiation emitted by the germicidal bulb is direct at an angle essentially orthogonal to a plane across one or both of a bottom and a top of the ophthalmic lens storage case. 
     
     
       25. The base of  claim 1  wherein the ophthalmic lens storage compartment additionally comprises a magnet and the base additionally comprises a source of magnetic pulses, wherein the magnetic pulses vibrate the ophthalmic lens storage compartment.